A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 15. Of Christs willingnesse to offer himself.

THis word a 1.1 He saith, is by the Apostle attributed to Christ; and it implieth a readinesse, or forwardnesse in him to do what he did. This is further mani∣fested

by this phrase attributed to him, v. 7. Loe I come: especially as it is expressed, Psal. 40. 8. I delight to do thy will O my God. That metaphor which Christ himself useth, Ioh, 4. 34. doth more fully expresse his mind in this case, my meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. If we observe the whole course of his life, we shall find it to be wholly composed unto his Fathers will. When he was but a child he could say, Wist you not that I must be about my Fathers businesse, Luk. 2. 49.

• 1. The respect which he bare to his Heavenly Father put him on hereunto. For Gods will was his rule, I seek not mine own will, saith he, but the will of the Father which hath sent me, Joh. 5. 30. and 6. 38. Yea, that was a law unto him, and he put a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon it, thus, I must work the workes of him that sent me, Joh. 9. 4. For he set him∣self to honour his Father.
• 2. That respect also which he bears to children of men made him forward to do and indure what he did, because it was for their redemption out of all misery, and to bring them to eternall happinesse.

• 1. This is a great incouragement to make us fly to Christ, and to rest upon him and upon his sacrifice. He being so ready and forward to do and endure what he did for us, can we doubt of his accepting us comming unto him? or may we questi∣on his Fathers accepting of what he did?
• 2. This instructeth us in the kind of Christs sacrifice: It was a free will offering: a willing, a cheerfull gift. In this respect it is the more acceptable to God, the more available for us, and worthy of more praise to him.
• 3. We ought here to look unto Christ, and be followers of him: For he is set be∣fore us as an object of faith, and as a rule for practice. Let therefore the same mind be in us, which was in Christ Iesus, Phil. 2. 5. They who are guided by Christs Spi∣rit will be so minded: as David, his Princes and people were exceeding forward in offering to the Lords house, and did what they did most willingly, 1 Chro. 29. 6, &c: And the Macedonians to their power, and beyond their power were willing of themselves to contribute to the necessity of the Saints at Ierusalem, 2 Cor. 8. 3. And Saint Paul thus professeth his readinesse even to die for Christ, I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Hierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus, Act. 21. 13. This forwardnesse, as it manifesteth good will, so it makes that which is done more ac∣ceptable unto God, and ministers much ground of confidence: as appeareth by this phrase, Accept I beseech thee, the free will offerings of my mouth, O Lord, Psal. 119. 108. See more hereof Chap. 9. v. 14. §. 79.

Notes

• a 1.1

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